The Joint Chiefs and Councils of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) say they will issue a moratorium on "the continued nuclear intensification" of its lands unless substantial progress is made towards the resolution of nuclear legacy issues.
The First Nation says the legacy issues cover the historical and ongoing impacts of the nuclear industry's presence on the SON Territory. While they've been pushing for a resolution for years, the last straw appeared to be the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) decision to site a deep geological repository (DGR) in Ignace, a decision that came before SON determined its willingness to host the project.
"Today, our Territory holds the vast majority of Canada’s nuclear waste and hosts one of the largest nuclear facilities in the world. Even now, following the announcement by NWMO that it will seek to build a DGR for used fuel in the north, SON is expected to continue to host the used fuel for another 60 years without our consent and without redress while the DGR undergoes the assessment process, licensing and permitting processes, and construction."
The NWMO sent this statement in response to the Joint Chiefs and Council.
"It’s important to note that the Nuclear Waste Management Organization is not responsible for the interim storage of nuclear waste," read the response. "The role of the NWMO is to build permanent storage for used nuclear fuel and intermediate-level and non-fuel high-level nuclear waste. In November 2024, we announced that we are moving forward with the process to site a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel in the area of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace in northwestern Ontario. The NWMO will soon begin the regulatory review process led by the federal government, with the expected operation of the deep geological repository to begin in the 2040s. Only then will our organization have a role in actively managing radioactive waste."
According to the Joint Chiefs and Council statement, the SON Nuclear Advisory Committee has been directed to pursue agreements with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the NWMO, other private nuclear industry operators, and the provincial and federal government.
A report back to Joint Council will be delivered in May 2025, at which point, if substantial progress has not been made, the moratorium could be issued.
"We will enforce this moratorium by all legal and political means necessary until a just and satisfactory resolution is in place," read the statement.
The SON voted against an OPG proposed DGR back in 2020. The First Nation said OPG committed to address legacy issues during that process, but no progress has been made in years since.
"It is unacceptable that we continue to face inaction from OPG and other members of the nuclear industry and government in addressing these injustices for the SON People. Their repeated failure to uphold commitments is an ongoing affront to SON’s rights," read the statement.
Bruce Power's Director of Community, Media Relations and Economic Development John Peevers, said they support the appropriate organizations engaging on historic concerns raised by SON.
"Bruce Power respects that our facility is on the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and we will continue to engage with SON leadership and the community in an open, transparent and collaborative way to address concerns and advance opportunities... Bruce Power will continue to work hard to build trust with SON leadership and community, expand collaboration, as we’ve done with our isotope partnership, and approach potential new opportunities in a manner that is unifying and brings meaningful benefit to the communities."
